Saint Petersburg festival Present Perfect has been running for four years now, becoming an authoritative Russian event dedicated to their progressive musical culture. Inviting famed artists from around the world to join a line up that boasts a selection of the country’s finest talent, Present Perfect brings together parties, concerts and educational sessions, as well as a 15-hour main event, for an informative three day affair. With so much of their scene under the radar, local artist Flaty provides a comprehensive guide to Russia’s modern music scene, going through his favourite lesser known labels.
The modern music scene of Russia is my main focus today. It’s extremely joyful to watch how rapidly it grows and progresses. Locally forming the next cultural layer, and at the same time adding new shades to the world’s aesthetic palette. Therefore, I want to share with you a small list of labels that are probably not known to the Western listener, but, in my opinion, deserve attention.
Udacha Records (Moscow)
This a Moscow based label that launched in 2012. Under the strict guidance of Alexei, it’s been running for six years and has released 15 records. If you chronologically listen to the discography of the label – you can really feel how each previous release is conceptually linked to the next, and overall, there is a general nature to all releases – which in turn can be called Udacha Sound.
The composition I chose from the catalogue is “Posevy”, a project from Bipolardepth.
Klammklang (Krasnoyarsk)
This label is supervised by Stas Sharifullin (HMOT). I think his work is very significant because he’s managed to not only organise a label and surround himself with beautiful musicians, but he also comprehends, formulates and brings out the Siberian scene. He made the press learn that there is a Siberian wave, and we discovered a group of excellent musicians. Among them is – Nikita Bugaev.
Between Us (Moscow)
This Moscow label is now defunct, but it left behind several very important releases. One of them – “Audiocad” Kuzma Palkin – is a great example of both skill and wit.
Spasibo Records (St. Petersburg)
Behind this label is perhaps one of the leading connoisseurs and collectors of the Soviet groove – DJ Bazil. Several years ago he actively took up publishing rare gems of Soviet origin, along with modern material in the field of funk/soul / library/ jazz/psych rock .. When I saw that Vasya got to Yuri Morozov, I was delighted, because “Inexplicable” is one of my favorites. A rare example of a true psych rock avant-garde of the 70s from the USSR.
NV Rec (Sochi)
An entirely new, digital only, label from Sochi. He’s engaged in the team Nizhnevysokoe, and covers the Moscow producer OL aka Oleg Buyanov.
RASSVET (Moscow)
This is a young label from Pavel Milyakov aka buttechno. Now the label founder has two of it’s own works, but in the future, I think, the works of his colleagues in John’s Kingdom will be in the spotlight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK4I7tn2K38
Oblast (Samara)
Samarskij is an underground bastion
Kotä Records (Moscow)
This Moscow label has a reasonably large discography of experimental/ avant-garde/sound art.
Singapore Sling Tapes (??)
This anonymous cassette label was active for only two years (2012 – 2014) but released a couple dozen excellent works, including “Big Calm” by Vladimir Karpov aka X.Y.R.
Hair Del. Records (Novosibirsk/St. Petersburg)
This label actively releases and arranges showcases. It seems to me that their music, in many ways, is characterised by an improvisational approach, hence the diversity of genres. You can check them out on Bandcamp, but I would like to share a fragment of recording a live performance.
Gost Zvuk (Moscow)
One of the leading domestic labels, whose focus is music from Russia and the countries of the post-Soviet space. I should mention that this year GOST will launch a new sub-label – GOST ARCHIVE, dedicated to the music of the past, and they will release a series of compilations of works by Mikhail Chekalin.
The record, which I would like to share, will be Piper Spray – Category
Buy tickets for Present Perfect festival here
Listen to Flaty’s work here